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Show United States sanctions abuse of women and oppression through a silent war men in the Lakesof Montebello raped and sodomized by This type of political attack isparticularly offensive to the Zapatistas, 3 Cameron Allcott in Chiapas. The brutal crime was clearly a political retaliation and By demands for womens for 1 three-arme- guest writer Most people are unaware of the war occurring in Mexico and U.S. governfacilitated sanctioned the Chiapas, by ment to protect the economic interests of big companies rather than lose the agreement made by the Mexican government and the United States for quasi-fre- e trade. The Mexican people had no say in (he arbitrary decision of the passage of NAFTA, clearly an indication of authoritarian rule. This rule is being fought against by the indigenous people in the forests of Lacandon known as the low-intensi- ty 7jpatisfa The Zapatists are fighting to survive and end the harsh conditions which were not relieved by the ratification of NAFTA, but continued to increase the oppression and exploitation that was occurring. Led by Subcomandante Marcos, the Zapatistas ( or EZLN) are trying to end the suffering imposed by this ruling PRI partys plans to maximize its land management and control over the indigenous people of Mexico. The movement is dedicated to the memory of Emiliano Zapata, a revolutionary hero in the early 20th century who, along with Pancho Villa, liberated the people from the highly exploitative Feudal system. While this liberated the class of merchants and landowners, it set the guidelines of equality which has been corrupted by the Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo. For example, the states refusal to grant land ownership to the indigenous people of Mexico, as mandated by Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution, was the cause of the uprising in Chiapas on January 1 , 1994. Every other ill, including the destruction of the Lacandon forest, stems from a corrupt and discriminatory system of land distribution. In Chiapas, successive state administrations have ignored or circumvented the land reforms that Zapata won for the Indians and poor peasants at the turn of the century.(l). Now, 6,000 cattle ranchers own most of the land, while a million Indians.struggle to survive on three million acres of poor marginal land, of which only 41 percent is suitable for farming. In addition, Zedilllo and the Mexican military are bent on crushing the movement to assure their thrones of power are secure. They reduce themselves to the most atrocious acts imaginable to break the spirit of the Zapatisas. Soldiers at military checkpoints perform humiliating body searches as well as rape women under political motives as was in the case of Cecilia Rodriguez, the U.S. represenative for the EZLN. On Oct. 25, 1995, Rodriguez was f HffillBffiFS flflD fflDIB Dear Editor, the gripe that I read in The Eagle of April 25, 1996 titled If vou don't have money to fund a program, drop it. Who gave "we" their information? What if the shift to Durrani is only a temporary situation? Why is so much anger and fear evidenced in the piece? My association with this paper has been as a reader and I do not have answers to the questions above. I would however, like to respond to one portion of the piece. I have been a student of and worked with the director of Turning Point for about nine months now and personally had no trouble keeping in touch with her. I very much doubt that 'Diming Point had anything to do with the move that The Eagle has experienced. I was surprised by Sincerely, Lloyd Erwin Lowe took place, the Eagle contacted incident this When note: Editors the Turning Point Office concerning this and other matters. They did not return any of our phone calls. They did, however, take down their office hours sign and replaced it with a call specific numbers for appointment sign. d a warning to others who speak for peace and human rights in Mexico, for they told her You know how things are in Chiapas right? Shut up or you know what will happen to you!" After she reported the incident to the proper authorities, the Vice Consul Nicholas Manring told her that they never prosecute in Mexico. She is not the only one. In Chiapas, three Tetzal women were allegedly raped by military officers in June 1994, while three nuns were raped in the town of San Andrez Larrainzer during the govemment-EZLpeace talks. Since 1994 at least 50 rapes have been reported in the region and the actual number is probably far higher. No attempt has been made to investigate these crimes, even that of Rodriguez. Niether the U.S. government nor the Mexican government seems interested in investigating these crimes even though rape is considered a war crime as delineated by the Nuremburg trials and subject to prosecution. Rodriguez has a theory to why no action has been taken: ... that the State Department would like for Mexico to appear serene and under control until after the next administration is put into office. Neither party can afford another Bosnia-lik- e disaster on their hands... "The United States likes to say it is a defender of democracy and justice. I am an American citizen and will watch N closely whether an U.S. authority will see fit to investigate this crime and challenge the apparent impunity of the armed men who committed this crime. The only thing the U.S. government seems to care about is a stable environment to protect big investors. The United States facilitates the war by training the Mexican soldiers and providing resources to stop drug trafficking. However, these resources are used to fight and repress the struggle for freedom in Mexico ( this would make considerable sense, since almost all the drug busts of Mexican origin are only done in the U.S. ). It is rather a scary thought that our government is sanctioning rape as a method of war which contributes to the battlefield objectification of women by displaying to men of an opposing side that rape of their women by a conquering soldier destroys all remaining power for men of the defeated side. The body of a raped woman becomes a ceremonial battlefield, a parade ground for the victor's trooping of the colors. The act that is played out upon her is a message passed between men vivid proof of victory for one and the defeat and loss for the other .(2) In this situation, women are constantly reminded that they are weak, subordinate and exist - only by man's good graces.(3) fflOUlF Dear editor I, along with other faculty and staff, would like to make the statement of No Confidence in the selection of the new athletic director. First of all, the plan was to make this position appointed. When some of us found out, we applied in order that there would at least have to go through the interview process. The job description was written to make it easily fit a certain individual. This is a very important position. Athletics, theater, dance and debate are all visible representations of CEU. We need strong support both on and off campus. Right now, there is no support. People are very upset over the whole matter. We would like to suggest that this position appointment be tabled or thrown out until September. This would possible give the new president some input. Also, after all, Curt Jensen has given 30 years of his life to CEU. We should respect his input in hiring his replacement. There is no harm in waiting. Curt is not retiring until January, 1997. The unity of the faculty and staff of CEU is at stake as well as the CEU and surrounding communities. We urge you to rethink this matter. It should not be "rubber stamped. We all have had enough of things done by acclamation. Thank you, Carolyn Gwyther just equality they wholeheartedly support member the of as an and force and justice as a working family equal such that they have the right to decide on the number of children to occupying positions of leadership. The Zapatistas make it clear in their laws that rape and attempted rape will be severely punished. That neither the U.S. nor the Mexican government vindicate these war crimes is a huge insult to the EZLN. Obviously, the Mexican government does not want to give women equality nor do they want to let the indiginous people of Mexico own land in order for them to survive. The only thing driving both our governments is the potential for deforesting the Lacandon rainforest in Chiapas. Land ownership in the hands of the few to exploit the workers and maximize big investors profits and destroy any hope of democracy. The Zapatistas need your help. You can do something to aid them in their struggle for freedom which so many of us take for granted. The best thing you can do is write or any member of our the government ( this is not hard to do, you can freely on web various president from the library computers by looking sites) or you can contact Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and tell him that his continued action will not be tolerated by the American public. Another method is to send money through certain agencies, (contact me on this one, ext 4254) or just sell a bunch of personal items you dont need (they need the money more than you do, trust ail ail me). The EZLN describes their suffering best: We have nothing to lose, absolutely nothing, no decent roof over our heads, no land, no work, poor health, no food, no education, no right to freely and democratically choose our leaden, no independence form foreign interests and no justice for ourselves or our children. But today we say enough is enough! We are the descen-denof those who built this nation, we are the millions of the dispossessed, and we call upon our brothers to join our crusade, the ts only option to avoid dying of starvation! EZLN Declaration of War: Jan. 1 1994 !Vive Zapata! Lie. Erhesto Zedillo Presidente del Republica Palacio Nacional 06067 Mexico D.F. Phone: (011)- - (525)- - 566-- 0245 Fax: (01 1)- 64 (1) Ann Canigan, Forum of World Affaire winterspring 1995 ' (2) Susan Brownmiller (3) Catherine N. Niarchos, Women War and Rape Human Rights Quarterly. Nov. 1995 (525)-271-177- 4; |